October 13, 2004
Strutting their stuff
Nineteen regional marching bands perform at Thirlby
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Stirring enthusiasm and precision together with music and showmanship is a guaranteed recipe for fun.
For the 1,200 members of 19 regional marching bands, the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association District 2 Exhibition was a good time had by all. Descending in waves on Thirlby Field Monday evening, bands from Onaway to Mancelona and Gaylord to Harbor Springs showcased their acts.
Themes ranged from pirates to planets to a tour of the calendar year. Bands used a range of costumes, props and attitude to liven up their act while flag twirlers sketched a rainbow of rhythms.
"We get so excited about doing this, this is the highlight of our season," said Rhiannon Isaksson, a senior and co-drum major at Traverse City St. Francis High School. "We stay to the end and it's always nice to compare other bands to us, hear what they are doing."
For some of the small schools participating in the event, it is a chance to shine while a huge crowd - estimated at more than 2,000 spectators not counting band members - cheers their approval.
"The kids get respect and appreciation and get to learn what other schools are doing," said Rich Brand, band director for Inland Lakes High School marching band. "It takes us two hours and ten minutes to get here and we have come every year, since 1995."
The event is hosted by Traverse City West High School, with a core of more than 40 volunteers from the school who sell tickets to direct buses to cue the bands.
"We have the best venue in the whole area," said Pat Brumbraugh director of bands for West High School. "Plus being in a larger city the bands tend to come in and we tend to get a bigger crowd."
"This is the only opportunity for the kids to get to see each other play," she noted.
Money raised by tickets sales for the event benefits future MSBOA programs. West High School sells commemorative T-shirts and usually raises a few hundred dollars for the band program. The concession sales benefit the Traverse City Music Boosters, which supports both Central and West high schools.
The Petoskey High School juggernaut again dazzled the audience with the sheer volume of their band (242 members fielded) and their sparkling performance.
The band, which features a percussion section larger than many of the smaller school's bands, arrives in five buses plus two trucks towing large trailers of equipment. Everyone pitches in to unpack, find their instruments and prepare the six carts plus five extensions used to tow equipment onto the field.
Parent volunteers said that getting all these kids in the right place wearing the right uniforms (they have two different color pants) at the right time can be a challenge. One mom spent Monday afternoon sorting 300 apples to make sure every student would have a snack on the bus ride down.
"Just getting 242 kids anywhere without any trouble is amazing," said Jane Karrigan, a self-described professional band parent who is midway through an eight-year hitch with one student a senior and a second in eighth grade.
"It ends up being a whole family affair," she said. "My husband pulls the truck and my daughter, who will be in the band next year, helps out."
Preparing for their performance three bands before the Petoskey Northman, the final act every year, members of the Traverse City Central High School marching band were strapping on flag canisters and warming up their instruments. The two drum majors darted around the clusters of musicians, each bestowing a good luck kiss on the helmet of every player.
"This is such a blast," enthused Stephanie Mousseau, a senior and co-drum major for the school. "When we're in the stands, we're screaming for everyone, we know it takes courage to go out there."